M-Audio Axiom Pro 61 Keyboard Controller

Control your audio software -- don't let your audio software control you! More than just a MIDI controller, the Axiom Pro's HyperControl technology intelligently maps its buttons, faders, and rotary encoders to the commonly accessed parameters of your host DAW -- Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic, Ableton Live, Reason, or even Sibelius. HyperControl seamlessly integrates the Axiom Pro 61 with virtual instruments, and provides tactile control over your mixes. If you'd like to change presets on your virtual piano plugin without constantly reaching over to hold down the mouse, the M-Audio Axiom Pro 61 is for you.

HyperControl: Constant Two-Way Link to Your DAW

Plug in the included USB cable to initiate HyperControl, a constant two-way link between the Axiom Pro 61 and your DAW. This means the Axiom Pro 61's controls are always in sync with your software's active parameters. The graphic LCD screen constantly updates to tell you what parameters are being controlled. Unlike other MIDI-mapping technologies, HyperControl receives "feedback" from the host software. And HyperControl lets you send more than just MIDI data -- you can assign the numeric keys or trigger pads to functions in your DAW. Create tracks, save a session, toggle between views, and more -- directly from your Axiom Pro 61. That obscure three-fingered keyboard shortcut that you can never remember is now mapped to #1 on the Axiom Pro's numeric keypad.

Semi-Weighted Keyboard and MPC-style Pads

Aching to stretch out those keyboard chops on the Mini Grand or Velvet virtual piano that came bundled with Pro Tools? Drop the mouse and get your hands on the 61 TruTouch keys (and 65 MIDI-assignable controls) on the Axiom Pro 61. This is a truly comfortable semi-weighted keyboard housed in a lightweight chassis. You'll find inputs on the back for both sustain and expression pedals, plus pitch bend and modulation wheels left of the keyboard. Octave buttons give you access to a full 88 notes. Use the nine sliders to control the drawbars on your virtual organ. Or if drums are more your speed, try laying down a rhythm on the MPC-style drum trigger pads -- the Axiom Pro 61's LCD screen gives you a numeric value to let you know how hard or soft you're hitting. Use these eight rubberized pads to create beats with ReDrum in Reason, or use your virtual drum machine of choice. With all the great software instruments available these days, who needs a big synth taking up valuable desk space in your home studio?

Powerful Control Surface in a Small Footprint

Trying to mouse a fader onscreen can be frustrating, which is why the "big boys" in pro studios spend thousands on massive control surfaces with motorized faders to steer their sessions. The Axiom Pro 61 gives you nine smooth 40mm sliders that automatically map to your DAW's mixer tracks and master volume. For sessions with high track counts, you can bank through tracks using buttons, and an outline will appear around your DAW tracks currently being controlled by HyperControl. Want to play with amp settings in Eleven Free? The eight rotary encoders automatically map to these settings, so you can tweak gain, tremolo, and speaker cabinet type by twisting real knobs in real time. You'll find that even if you're really not that much of a keyboardist, the Axiom Pro 61 packs a lot of control-surface power into a small footprint. And the Axiom Pro 61 is USB-bus-powered, so you don't even need a power brick to get started. Just connect the USB cable to your computer and you'll be controlling your DAW -- without a mouse.

The constant two-way link with your host DAW means the keyboard's controls are always in sync with your software's active parameters. The intuitive graphic LCD constantly updates the current values, which ensures seamless editing and prevents parameter jumps--even when plug-ins are closed. Toggle instantly between Mixer and Instrument control modes. Map buttons to send QWERTY key commands right from the Axiom Pro 61. Save settings to 50 memory locations--each with four profiles of quick recall via the intuitive graphic LCD. Now you can control your entire session right from your Axiom Pro 61.

Enhanced DAW Integration with HyperControl Technology

Thanks to revolutionary M-Audio HyperControl technology, your Axiom Pro 61 controller will automatically map to commonly used parameters of popular software instruments and digital audio workstations including Pro Tools, Cubase, Logic and Reason* systems. HyperControl updates the virtual instrument or track parameter mappings of each control in real time as you sequence--it doesn't get any easier.

The HyperControl Difference

While other controllers offer mapping, only the M-Audio Axiom Pro line has HyperControl technology. HyperControl synchronizes Axiom Pro with your DAW, ensuring that your hardware and software collaborate to form a single work environment. The technology utilizes the Axiom Pro 61 graphic LCD to group software controls together in a modular fashion. Similar controls are organized in named groups and accessed via four dedicated softkeys, which are continually updated to reflect the mapped parameters. A dedicated button toggles between Mixer and Instrument modes for instant hands-on control of all of your software's functionality. Dedicated Track buttons allow sequential navigation of your mixer and instantaneous mapping of software instruments within the selected track. You can even control software instruments without opening them.

DAW Transport and Track Navigation

The six dedicated transport buttons on the Axiom Pro 61 controller give you immediate hands-on access to all of your host DAW's playback and recording controls. Unlike other all-or-nothing systems, Axiom Pro 61 also features a transport-only mode. This option lets you access DAW transports and track navigation via HyperControl technology, while creating and controlling your own custom MIDI assignments for the trigger pads, buttons, sliders and encoders.

Expressive Playability

With great feel in a lightweight chassis, the Axiom Pro 61 controller provides creative inspiration. The M-Audio TruTouch(tm) keybed combines professional semi-weighted action with advanced high-speed keybed scanning technology for an ultra-expressive playing experience. Assignable aftertouch adds an extra measure of expression and control.

The Ultimate Pro Tools Keyboard Controller

Whether you are working on a Pro Tools M-Powered, Pro Tools LE or Pro Tools|HD system, the Axiom Pro MIDI controllers set the standard for Pro Tools keyboard control. Advanced M-Audio HyperControl technology puts instant access to all of your Pro Tools parameters at your fingertips--including mixing, individual track functionality, and unparalleled control of virtual instruments such as Xpand!, Strike and Hybrid.

Different Strokes

The Axiom Pro keyboard controller line is the first to combine MIDI control with ASCII keystrokes. You can assign any button on Axiom Pro 61 to send ASCII messages accessing any of the available QWERTY keyboard shortcuts within your host DAW. Imagine the possibilities with Copy, Paste, Duplicate, New Track--anything you want to assign.

Complete MIDI Control

Axiom Pro 61 has an amazing 65 MIDI-assignable controls, putting complete session control in one place. The eight velocity-sensitive trigger pads integrate acclaimed M-Audio Trigger Finger technology for laying down rhythm tracks or triggering loops and samples. Smoothly control parameters like filters, EQ and panning with the eight rotary encoder knobs. The nine 40mm sliders (each with its own fully assignable button) feature auto-mute to prevent jumping--ideal for controlling mixes, virtual organ drawbars and more. The keyboard's extensive controllers also include 12 fully assignable buttons in the keypad arrangement, a data/octave button, pitch bend and mod wheels, aftertouch, and dual assignable pedal jacks. In addition to USB connectivity, you'll also find traditional MIDI In and MIDI Out ports for connecting external MIDI devices.

Total Recall

The Axiom Pro 61 keyboard has 50 memory locations--each with four quick-access profiles of controller assignments--allowing you to easily create and manage your own extensive library of presets with unprecedented power, ease and flexibility.

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
""Feels pretty good, support sucks, hypercontrol doesn't work properly for people who have version 8 or above, not a great value,"

Sound:
It is expressive, the keys have a fairly nice response but they are a too light. I had heard that this keyboard was sturdy so I was a little taken aback at how fragile and just unnatural the keys actually felt. Overall, I wouldn't complain too much about them though. The pads are actually pretty good and the resolution of the faders and rotary nobs were better than I expected.
Feature:
The features sound great but what they won't tell you is that Hypercontrol doesn't function properly in Pro Tools 8 or higher. Many of the other DAWs and music production software are impossible to use effectively and you WILL waste alot of time trying to get this thing to work. I couldn't believe they didn't bother to tell customers that Hypercontrol doesn't work AT ALL with Pro Tools 8.04 and causes FATAL errors in Pro Tools 9. I lost a great deal of respect for M-Audio.
Ease of Use:
It's not easy to learn how to use the more complicated features, like anything there is a learning curve. However a more user intuitive interface wouldn't hurt.
Quality:
Just doing a little research specifically into the problems of this keyboard you can see that they're pretty significant. From problems with the LED screen to the board just not working after a while. It's not the sort of board that's going to last you a life-time. This was one of my biggest disappointments.
Value:
For the price I expected it to actually work. Otherwise I could buy a cheaper board and alpha track's transport or something and call it a day. It's so aggravating when you spend hours trying to figure out what's wrong your setup/keyboard just find out it's a software problem that M-audio knew about for months on end and still hasn't found a resolution, or at the very least resolved to inform their customers about the issues before they buy it.
Manufacturer Support:
M-audio's support is absolutely abysmmal. If you look at the M-Audio forums you can see for yourself the amount of time it takes to get a response on an issue, and if it helps when they finally get around to it.
The Wow Factor:
The board looks nice. Not super sexy but definitely not ugly. It has a little whip appeal.
Overall:
I personally wasn't satisfied at all... I will be returning it

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zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.
"Nice,but overpriced"

Overall:
Bought the 49 key version a few years ago,because the 61 was too pricey.Back then,I was brand new to DAW's,so I really appreciated the Hypercontrol feature.The semi-weighted action was a notable improvement.....but the color scheme was a bit to radical for me.

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A temporary customer reference number is assigned to each customer only while they are shopping on zZounds.com. If you call our customer service department for assistance, this number makes it easier for us to answer any questions you have about products, services or purchases.

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